Brooks to the non-rescue…again.

Technorati Tags: Religion,David Brooks,New York Times

Poor David Brooks. He just can’t seem to let go of the past.

Here’s a link to his latest The New York Times mini-screed.  In it, Brooks bemoans the individualistic times in which we live and years for a return, as Republicans these days are wont to do, to the 1950s.

Brooks longs for a return to “…commitments to family, God, craft and country.” Hm. Well, three out of four “ain’t bad.”

Family, craft and country one could understand.  God? The anthropomorphic God of the “Book?” Really?

We should commit to the metaphors of people who lived hundreds and thousands of years ago? Who dealt with life-threatening natural conditions the likes of which we have come to understand and deal with them successfully? The metaphors which wouldn’t stand the scrutiny of a skeptical analyst? Ask the families who are survivors of religious sectarian killings; what would they say about commitment to God? (Other people keep getting in the way that commitment, and no one can rationally explain why.)

Change the metaphors; use metaphors which fit the intellectual evolution of the species.

Then talk about commitment.

Otherwise, Mr. B., deal with the status quo, not the status quo ante.

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Does Dave read his own work?

Technorati Tags: New York Times,David Brooks,Mr. Obama,Mr.Romney,Capitalism

Poor David Brooks. He tries so hard, yet so often shoots himself in the foot during the effort.

Take this quote from his column today:

[Obama’s] economic advisers have generally touted the benefits of globalization even as they worked to help those who are hurt by its downsides.

All of Brooks’ argument in this column can be refuted by taking the final two clauses of the quote as a basis for your argument’s construction.

The difference between the visions of capitalism of Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney which we see in today’s political arena is exactly that Mr. Obama is working to help those who are hurt by various policies which might or might not be necessary in a capitalistic system.

As Brooks writes, “[Romney’s] an efficiency expert.” He does best what is best for the business plans under which he works. His vision with Bain had not been broadened to include helping those who might fall to the dictates of a theory.

We live in a society with a social contract which demands we all take responsibility for our actions. Sometimes it means giving a helping hand to a person we knocked down.

Brooks knows that, and, in that quote, he inadvertently gives the strongest possible negative take on Romney he could have given. The question remains, Why didn’t Dave realize that when he published?

Trust, but verify.

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Alas! A crisis of conscience!

Technorati Tags: Sex studies,Bisexuals,Gays,Non-gays,Culture Wars,Box Turtle Bulletin

From Box Turtle Bulletin:

Shocking, simply shocking! A new study has determined that some men are attracted to both male and female persons. Or, at least, sexually stimulated by watching them have sex.

This new finding contradicts and earlier one which denied evidence of existence of bisexuals, but was flawed in its population selection. (NY Times)

For many, many years, I’ve been skeptical about discussions I’ve had with certain serial-one-night-stands.

“How can you date/marry her? What’re you doing here if you’re going to be there?”

“I guess I just like you both.”

Skeptical. Mighty skeptical.

Now some researchers tell us that X and Y, and a couple of other less-frequent Alphabet Letters were correct about themselves after all?

Well, after the brachytherapy, it’s pretty much moot. Still, it does give pause.

Do I apologize?

Or do I wait for the next “study” to give us another way to look at ourselves?

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Great Quip

Technorati Tags: Culture Wars,Republican Party

From today’s New York Times we find this little nugget in a column by Frank Bruni which puts l’affaire Bachmann in its place:

I once tried to pray away the gay. But sometimes a houseguest just won’t leave.

Quel drole!

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Thanks, Ms D

Technorati Tags: Maureen Dowd,Liz Smith,New York Times

Much appreciation to Maureen Dowd for reminding us of a great line.

In an article about celebrities of yore, particularly Liz and Dick (Dick ‘n Liz?), La Dowd recalls: 

As Liz Smith once observed, “Whenever somebody says, ‘So and so is a big star,’ I say, ‘Have they been condemned by the Vatican?’ ”

Is that a great humbler or not? (BTW, L&D were.)

Thanks, Les Dowd et Smith.

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Just wondering

Ross Douthat, over at The New York Times, has an interesting article on the state of American consciousness and future today, Death of a Failure.

It’s an interesting piece, but this phrase caught my attention:  “…the utopian fantasy politics embodied by groups like Al Qaeda, or the mix of thugs, fools and pseudointellectuals …”

Queston:  Isn’t the combination of “fools and pseudointellectuals” redundant?

Technorati Tags: Ross Douthat,BinLaden

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When Losing Is Almost Better

In today's New York Times, one can read about a particular marvel of advertising which can give you a glow.

The story, by Lee Jenkins (thank you, Lee), details what happens to the Super Bowl winners' paraphenalia which was manufactured before the Super Bowl is played. It's shipped to a remote village in an undeveloped area. 288 caps and T-shirts emblazoned with the losing team's name and identity as the winning team, are off on a journey to someplace. “Where these items go, the people don’t have electricity or running water.”

Check out the heartwarming story. By the time you get to the last sentence, There, and only there, the losers get to be winners, you'll have gained a new respect for the N.F.L.
Super Bowl
Lee Jenkins

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Testosterone--the great equalizer?

The New York Times today (1/26/07) has an editorial ("More Willful Indifference") in which it wags a finger at the FBI's handling of early indications of Mark Foley's predilections for late teenagers.

A very interesting sentence reads, Now it turns out that the F.B.I. was just as phlegmatic about the scandal as Mr. Foley’s Republican colleagues.

Phlegmatic. That can be interpreted as "So?" Don't most men have an appreciative eye for young adults? My barber in Los Angeles once remarked, "School's starting up again soon, isn't it? I like the beginning of school. Lots of young stuff walking by."

Lesson: non-gays and gays share the same sex urgings. Urgings which are not acted upon are relatively normal among the male of the species.

An objective response between males to the appreciation of young adults is "So?"

One wonders, then, why the outrage at the Times.

Denial?

To appropriate the slogan: We've come a long way, baby.

New York Times
Mark Foley
Sexuality

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